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Visiting Paris

I have happy memories of visiting Paris in the springtime. It’s such a beautiful place and so romantic, it has many iconic landmarks and the most wonderful patisseries. So with Paris as my inspiration, I’m pleased to be able to join this month’s theme “Out and About” being hosted by Yvonne from Meggy’s Way over at Art Journal Journey.

I chose some of my favourite colours of green and blue to create the background using Chipped Sapphire, Peacock Feathers and Peeled Paint Distress Inks. I applied the ink pad directly to an acrylic block, and then I sprayed it with water and pressed the block onto my page. I filled in any white gaps with watered down Chipped Sapphire ink using a paint brush. I then stamped a Serpentine background using the Chipped Sapphire ink, some small script stamps using the Peeled Paint ink and some postage mark stamps using Jet Black Archival Ink. Then I added fine splatters of white and black acrylic paint using a paint brush. I stencilled Texture Paste using a Wheels Stencil from Ranger by Dina Wakley Media, and because the inks bleed into the wet paste and colour it, I had to paint the wheels with white acrylic paint when the paste had fully dried in order to give it a clean white finish. I used paper from a design pad, choosing two different designs which reminded me of French design wallpapers and cut them to the various sizes. I distressed the edges with pinking shears and applied Black Soot Distress Ink with a blending tool. The Paris images and postage stamps are Stickeroos from Penny Black, and once the stickers where in place I stuck everything to the page using a UHU Stic and double-sided foam tape. I embellished the papers and images with a black rhinestone frame border and then to mimic this frame effect and lighten the page, I continued the dots around the edge using white acrylic paint which I painstakingly applied with an embossing tool; I really like the 3D effect. I added the word “Paris” which is from the same Penny Black Stickeroo set; I stuck them to some card first before sticking them to the page, outlining them with a black Uni Pin marker and adding the white dots. To finish the page I added clusters of green gemstones on both the background and the images.

We visited Paris as a special birthday treat and I remember the magical Eiffel Tower with its wonderful iron lattice-work. It looks so spectacular all lit up and twinkling, apparently there are 20,000 light bulbs which are used to make the Eiffel Tower sparkle every night. Today almost 7 million people a year visit the Eiffel Tower and it’s believed to be the most visited paid-for monument in the world.

The metal work is so beautiful and the tower stands at 324 metres (1063 feet) tall including antennas. I was amazed to find out that it comprises 18,000 metal parts which are joined together by 2.5 million rivets, it sways around six to seven centimetres (2-3 inches) in the wind, during cold weather the tower shrinks by about 15cm (six inches) and that it takes 60 tonnes of paint to repaint it every seven years.

The Arc De Triomphe is magnificent; it stands at the end of the Champs-Élysées and looks such a powerful structure. It is 50 metres (164 ft) high, 45 metres (148 ft) wide and 22 metres (72 ft) deep. We found out that it was built to honour those who fought for France especially during the Napoleonic wars. In fact, the construction was ordered in 1806 by Napoleon himself to honour the Grande Armee, the name of the French army at that time. It was completed in 1836, long after Napoleon’s death in 1821.

I remember standing under the monument looking up at all the amazing carvings; it was so ornate and pays tribute to the wars fought as well as those who fought in them.

You wouldn’t believe the number of patisseries that are dotted around the streets of Paris! They all sell the most amazing sweet treats – yum! There is so much choice and they had the most lovely chocolates and Easter eggs too!

Thanks for joining me today! If you have any questions or comments, I would love to hear from you.

Here is a list of all the materials used to create this art journal page:

Oh wow.. what an amazing Paris page and in my favourite colours – ADORABLE!
Paris is such a wonderful city!
Thank you for joining AJJ again with such an amazing piece and for all the wonderful impressions of Paris!
I wish you a happy weekend dear Jo!
oxo
Susi

Its a fantastic page Jo and what better destination for a special occasion than to visit Paris. I loved all the detail in your journal page and all the great photos you shared, especially the last one of the patisserie.
Have a good weekend.
Yvonne xx

The patisseries are so amazing and all those treats tested my willpower – it’s so hard to walk by them without looking in the window and wanting to try something … lol! Thanks very much and wishing you a good weekend too! J 🙂

You are very welcome, is always nice to admire others artwork over at AIJ! Thank you for your lovely comments and stopping by! I really enjoyed working with these colours as they are my favourites too :-). Have a great weekend! J 🙂

I visited Paris in the early spring 8 years ago and I was just looking at my photos from that trip a couple of days ago. You made a great page about yours-using those colors really reminded me of the start of everything greening up and the couple of sunny days we had while there. And it was smart to not center the Eiffel Tower in that frame too. I think you made a really beautiful page-nice recognition to the city. I think I’m ready to go back. How about you? Happy weekend-hugs-Erika

Thanks so much Erica! Paris is so lovely at springtime and your comments sound so familiar – the background reminds me of the leaves sprouting on the trees and blue skies we had for just a couple of days during our visit too 🙂 . Hope you get to go back soon, that would be lovely! Happy weekend! J 🙂

What a lovely fresh coloured Paris page and your photos are amazing too. I was in April last year also in Paris and met there a nice Blog Friend. If heaven allows we will meet again this year in Paris. It is such a nice city with a very special flair.
Dear Greetings and have a nice weekend.
Hugs
Sabine

Oh Jo! I just had to come and see your Paris page before looking at your T post! I adore the colours you have used! I think I must do a Paris page too to honour my favourite city in the World! Hugs, Chrisx

Oh Oh Oh and Oooh la laaaa!
So happy not to miss this creation of yours dear Jo.
The colors are some of my favorites too and there certainly is something magical about Paris.
The Eiffel Tower is such a people magnet and what a marvel of construction it is both day and night.
I still can hardly believe we were on top of the Arc De Triomphe.
There were quite a few stairs as the elevator wasn’t working but we huffed and puffed our way to the top. Very windy up there with views that were spectacular.
Now you have the song APRIL IN PARIS playing in my head and we are counting the days.
Thank you for sharing another gorgeous and splendid page.
oxo

Paris is such a magical place and it’s amazing to think we have experienced all these wonderful sights 🙂 . I find myself often singing that song too this time of year. Thanks for your kind comments and wishing you a restful and peaceful week! J 🙂